Blinker light lantern



Oct. 20, 1970 A, H. MQORE ETAL 3,535,506

BLINKER LIGHT LANTERN Filed Nov. 1, 1967 ze 32%@ 5 Z8 24 2a c 44 43 ze5^? United States Patent `O U.S. Cl. 24U-10.63 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A battery powered lantern having a light translucent plasticbody, a iirst slidable switch for controlling the usual lamp, and asecond slidable switch carrying a holder at one end for supporting ablinker lamp within the body. The holder includes switching means toselectively energize the blinker lamp to intermittently illuminate aportion of the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a lantern similarto the type shown and described in Pat. No. 3,252,733 issued on May 24,1966 to the same inventors as the instant application, and moreparticularly to such a lantern incorporating a blinker light and switchtherefor for illuminating the body of the lantern.

It is well known in the prior art to provide lanterns with blinker headsafety lights which enable the user to flash an intermittent distresssignal by yselectively closing a usual second switch to energize theblinker lamp. One diculty with these lanterns is that they generallyemploy self-contained switch units which are wired to the battery andthe blinker lamp thus increasing the cost of the lantern. The blinkerlamps of these lanterns are most frequently housed within a blinker headcomprising a distinctive, red, translucent globe mounted atop an armextendable from the lantern body. This construction allows thecomparatively small blinker head to be extended above the body and to bevisible for a greater distance while simultaneously making the lanternless able to withstand the rough usage to which it is often subjected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the primary object of thisinvention to provide an improved impact resistant hand lantern which maybe molded of a nonconductive light translucent plastic material andhaving positioned therein a blinker lamp actuable by means of a simpleunwired switch to intermittently illuminate a large portion of the body.

To accomplish these objects in one form, we have provided a blinkerlight lantern having a light transparent body formed of a nonconductivematerial including a battery receiving chamber and an enlarged forwardend, conductor means to contact opposite poles of the batteries, aconductive portion positioned in the enlarged forward end and inelectrical contact with the remaining pole of one of the batteries, amovable switching strip in constant contact with the remaining pole ofthe other battery, a blinker lamp holder mounted upon the switchingstrip and carrying a contact strip, a blinker lamp positioned with oneterminal in contact with the switching strip and the other terminal incontact with the contact strip and means in contact with the contactstrip positioned to engage the conductive portion for completing thecircuit through the blinker lamp when the switching strip is selectivelymoved forwardly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a side elevational view of ablinker light lantern incorporating our invention showing the tandemswitch buttons;

FIG. 2 is a section taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken substantially along line 3 3 of FIG. 2 showingthe internal construction of our irnproved lantern;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional viewl taken substantially along line 4 4of FIG. 2 showing the tandem slidable switching strips;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5 5 of FIG. 4showing the blinker lamp switching strip and lamp holder;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing the movable blinker lamp holder; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the movable blinker lamp holderwith the blinker lamp removed taken in the direction of line 7 7 of FIG.6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With particular reference to thedrawings there is illustrated a hand lantern having a body generallydesignated by the numeral 10 formed of a shock resistant, nonconductive,light translucent plastic material such as polyethylene. The handlantern is similar to the lantern disclosed in Pat. No. 3,252,733 issuedon May 24, 1966 to Arthur H. Moore and Joseph G. Bacevius assigned tothe same assignee as the instant application. The body 10 includes arectangular battery receiving chamber 12, a lens support bell 14, and ahandle 16. The lens support bell 14 terminates in an annular cylindricalextension 18 (note FIG. 3) which is formed with a screw thread 19 on itsouter surface. A switching surface 20 is formed on the wall of thebattery chamber 12 beneath the handle 16 adjacent the lens support bell14. Thus, the surface 20 lies in an area protected by the handle yetconveniently located adjacent the users thumb when the lantern is heldby the handle in the users right hand. Rectangular switch guide slots 22and 24 are defined in the switching surface 20 to guide the switch in amanner to be described hereinafter. Formed upon the interior wall of theswitching surface 20 directly behind slots 22 and 24 are ribs 26 and 28which run transverse to the longitudinal dimension of the slots 22 and24.

The body 10 further includes an internally extending shoulder 30positioned between the lens support bell 14 and the battery receivingchamber 12 on the lower portion of the body. As fully set forth in theabove mentioned Moore et al. patent the shoulder 30 supports asubstantially L-shaped metallic battery contact strip 32 mounted Withinthe chamber 12. The Io-shaped contact strip includes a curvedhoriontally extending clip portion l32a which clamps onto the shoulder30 to retain the strip in position, a vertical portion 32h which liescontigous to the inner wall of one side of the chamber i12 and an upperend portion 32e which is curved to conform to the inner wall of theswitching surface 20` (note FIG. 2). The contact strip 32 is retained inposition by means of a rivet 34 which passes through the wall of theswitching surface 20 in line with the switch guide slot 221.

A iirst metallic switching strip 36 formed of a resilient material suchas brass extends longitudinally of the battery chamber 12 along theinner |Wall of the switching surface 20. The switching strip includes acentral offset portion 36a Which extends into the slot 22, a planarcontact portion 36b which bears against the rivet 34 and is thereby inelectrical contact with the contact strip 32, a curved contact nose 36Cformed at its forward e-xtremity and a raised detent portion 36d whichcooperates with the rib 26. The switching strip 36 is held in positionin the body l by means of a rivet 3'8 which secures the offset centralportion 36a within a recess formed in a plastic sliding switch button 40in such a manner that the switch button-switching strip assembly islongitudinally slidable in the slot 22, the vertical portions of theoffset central portion 36a acting as stops to limit forrward andrearward motion. The detent portion 36e cooperates with the rib 26 topositively position the switch assembly in its forward and in itsrearward positions.

A second metallic switching strip 42 also formed of a resilient materialsuch as brass extends longitudinally of the battery chamber 12 along theinner wall of the switching surface in line with the switch guide slot24. The switching strip 42 includes a central offset portion 42a :whichextends into the slot 2-4 as shown in FIG. 5, a raised detent portion42b which cooperates with the rib 28, and a planar contact portion 42Cwhich bears against the upper end portion 32e of the contact strip 32.The second switching strip 42 is held in position in the body 10 bymeans of a rivet which secures the offset central portion 42a within arecess formed in a plastic sliding switch button 43 so that the switchbutton-switching strip assemb'ly is longitudinally slidable in the slot24 in the same manner as the first switching strip 36. The forward endof the switching strip 42 comprises a support portion for a blinker lampholder 44 including a rivet receiving aperture 42d and a longitudinallyextending offset portion 42e formed at its forward extremity. Theblinker lamp holder 44 comprises a nonconductifve plastic memberpreferably formed of a rigid material such as styrene. The holderincludes a socket portion `44a partially of arcuate cross-section havinginternal threads 44h described thereon (note FIG. 7), an inclined endwall portion 44C dedining a central slot 44d therethrough and an offsetmounting portion 44e having a rivet receiving aperture 44f. The holder44 supports an L-shaped contact strip 46 formed of a resilient materialsuch as brass, including a mounting leg 46a having a rivet receivingaperture- 46b dened therethrough and an inclined lamp terminal contactleg 46c formed to exert pressure against the inclined end wall 44C ofthe holder. A rivet 48 including a contact head 48a has a shank 48bwhich passes through the rivet receiving apertures 42d, 44j and 46b isspun over at its end to secure the blinker lamp holder 44 and theL-shaped contact strip upon the movable second switching strip 42. Awasher 50` formed of electrically insulating material including an axialcollar portion 50a surrounds the rivet shank 48b to insulate the rivetfrom the second switching strip.

A usual blinker lamp F52 is threadedly engaged in the socket portion 44abeing supported in part by the offset portion 42e of the secondswitching strip which makes electrical contact with the shell of thelamp. The blinker lamp 52 should be engaged suiiiciently for its centralterminal to make electrical contact rwith the L-shaped contact strip 46.

The lens construction of the lantern of our invention is clearlyillustrated in FIG. 3. As will be noted therein the metalized plasticreector 154 includes an annular flange 54a which tlits against the rimof the cylindrical extension 18. A threaded plastic lens ring 56 isthreadedly engaged with screw thread 19 on the cylindrical extension andincludes an annular iiange 56a which bears against a clear plastic lens58 to retain the reiiector `54 and lens 58 in position.

A usual lamp `60` is retained in a threaded plastic insert 64 positionedwithin the reilector154, and its shell making electrical contact 'withan outwardly extending conductive flange i612. A U-shapedcontact springstrip |66 is mounted through the rear wall of the insert [64 for makingelectrical contact between central terminal of the lamp 60 and the usualflashlight dry cells C. The U-shaped strip 66 also serves to secure asecond conductive liange 68 in electrical contact Iwith the dry cells C,the ange y68 being of smaller diameter than the tiirst flange 62 andincluding a central slot 70` through which the U-shaped spring strip 66may pass.

A double coil spring 72 is mounted against the rear wall of the body ina usual manner. In order to power the lantern of our invention, standardflashlight dry cells C1, C2, C3, and C4 are inserted into the body intwo rows between the shoulder 30 and the double coil spring 72 andbetween the spring and the lamp y60 in a manner fully described in theabove mentioned Moore et al. patent.

The operation of the lantern for illuminating the lamp 60 is fullydescribed in the above mentioned Moore et al. patent and therefore onlythe operation of the blinker lamp circuit will be described herein. Withreference to FIG. 3, there is illustrated an open electrical circuit inwhich the following elements are electrically connected: the secondconductive flange 68, the U-shaped spring strip 66, cells C4 and C3,double coil spring 72, cells C1 and C2, L-shaped contact strip 312.,second switching strip 42, the shell of blinker lamp 52, the lampiilament, the central terminal of lamp 52, L-shaped spring strip 46 andthe rivet 48. In order to energize the blinker lamp it is merelynecessary to slide the switch button 43 forwardly to advance the secondswitching strip 42 thus carrying the entire blinker lamp holder 44forwardly. This moves the contact head 48d of the rivet against thesecond conductive iiange I68 to close the electrical connection andcomplete the circuit. The circuit is 'broken by sliding the button 43 inthe opposite direction.

Since the blinker lamp 52 is positioned within the enlarged lens supportbell 14 a large portion of the lantern body is illuminated. This is dueto the positioning of the lamp adjacent the rear reflective surface ofthe metallized plastic reflector 54. Approximately twenty percent of thelantern surface area is illuminated, this being larger than the area ofthe usual translucent blinker globes of the prior art constructions.

Having described our invention of a blinker light lantern it will bereadily appreciated by those skilled in this art that a lanternembodying our invention is simple in design, low in cost and ingeniousin operation. It will be noted that by means of the present inventionthe objectives set forth abo-ve have been attained. For example, we haveprovided an impact resistant lantern with an internal, protected blinkerlamp assembly mounted upon a unique slidable switching strip in a novelmanner and which may intermittently illuminate a large portion of thelantern body.

It should be understood that the present disclosure has been made onlyby way of example and that numerous changes in details of constructionand the. combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from thel true spirit and the scope of the invention ashereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An electric hand lantern comprising: a body of electrical insulatingmaterial defining a chamber :for receiving a battery and having anenlarged light translucent portion at one end; lamp positioning meansmounted in said body to position a lamp therein; first switch means forselectively electrically connecting the terminals of said lamp with thepoles of said battery; a first electrical contact within said body, inelectrical contact with one pole of said battery; a second electricalcontact within said body in electrical contact with the other pole ofsaid battery; a metallic switching strip mounted within said body formovement between a rst and a second posi tion and slidingly engagingsaid first contact at all times; an auxiliary lamp holder mounted onsaid switching strip to position an auxiliary lamp within said enlargedportion, one terminal of said auxiliary lamp being electricallyconnected to said switching strip; a third electrical contact carried bysaid switching strip in electrical contact with the other terminal ofsaid auxiliary lamp and positioned to` engage said second electricalcontact when said switching strip is in its second position; and meansaccessible from the exterior of said lbody for moving said switchingstrip from its first toits second position where- -by said enlargedlight translucent portion is illuminated upon energization of theauxiliary lamp".

2. The electric hand lantern defined in claim 1 wherein said auxiliarylamp is a blinker lamp and further including a concave refieetorsurrounding said lamp and having highly reflective front and rearsurfaces whereby said entire enlarged light translucent portion isilluminated when said auxiliary lamp is energized.

3. An electric hand lantern comprising: a body of electrical insulatingmaterial defining a chamber for receiving a plurality of cells forming abattery and having an enlarged light translucent portion at one end;conductor means positioned in said chamber to contact opposite poles ofat least two of said cells; a conductive portion positioned within saidbody in said enlarged portion and in contact with one pole of saidbattery; lamp positioning means mounted in said body to position a lamptherein; first switch means for selectively electrically connecting theterminals of said lamp with the poles of said battery; an auxiliaryblinker lamp; a selectively movable lamp holder mounted within said bodyin said enlarged portion; and second switch means including a firstmetallic contact strip secured to said body in a fixed position tocontact the remaining pole of said battery, a metallic switching stripmovably mounted on said body and arranged to siidingly engage said firstcontact strip at all times, said lamp holder being mounted upon saidswitching strip and positioning said 'blinker lamp with one of the lampterminals in contact with said switching strip, a second metalliccontact strip carried by said holder in position to contact another ofsaid lamp terminals, means carried by said second contact strip toselectively engage said conductive portion only in one position to whichsaid switching strip is movable for completing an electricaly circuitthrough sad b-linker lamp; and means accessible from the exterior ofsaid body for selectively moving said switching strip into and out ofsaid position.

4. The blinker light lantern defined in claim 3 wherein said blinkerlamp holder includes an electrically insulating body having a threadedportion within which said blinker lamp may be positioned.

5. The blinker light -lantern defined in claim 3 wherein said contactstrip includes a forward planar portion upon which said blinker lampholder is mounted and a forwardmost offset portion positioned to supportsaid blinker lamp in said holder and to contact one of the lampterminals.

6. The blinker light lantern defined in claim 5 wherein said blinkerlamp holder includes a mounting portion and said second metallic contactstrip also includes a mounting portion and further including securingmeans for mounting said second contact strip mounting portion and saidholder mounting portion upon said forward planar portion of saidswitching strip. l

7. The blinker light lantern defined in claim 3 wherein said means toselectively engage said contact portion comprises a fastener positionedto secure said second contact strip and said holder upon the forward endof said switching stnip and wherein said securing means is in electricalcontact with said second contact strip and is electrically insulatedfrom said switching strip. f

8. The blinker light lantern defined in claim 3 wherein: said lamppositioning means positions said lamp with one of the lamp terminalselectrically connected to said remaining pole of said battery, said lamppositioning means including a second conductive portion in contact withthe other lamp terminal; and said first switch means includes a secondmetallic switching strip movably mounted on said body and arranged toslidingly engage said first contact strip at all times but selectivelyengage said second conductive portion only in one position to which itis movable; and further including second means accessible from theexterior of said body for selectively moving said second switching stripinto and out of position.

9. The blinker light lantern defined in claim 8 wherein said conductiveportion and said second conductive portion comprise radially outwardlyextending flanges, said conductive portion having a smaller diameterthan said second conductive portion.

10. The blinker light lantern defined in claim 9 wherein: said blinkerlamp holder includes an electrically insulating body and a mountingportion; said contact strip includes a forward planar portion and aforwardmost offset portion positioned to support Said blinker lamp insaid holder and to contact one of the lamp terminals; said secondmetallic contact strip having a mounting portion; and said means toselectively engage said contact portion comprises a fastener positionedto secure said second contact strip mounting portion and said holdermounting portion upon said forward planar portion of said switchingstrip.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/ 1937 Stimson 24o-10.63 3/1965Jones Q 24U-10.63 X

